Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

[kamalayka]

A few years ago I bought his first solo album, "Tusk of Jaguar." It's definitely not Loudness, but it still sounds pretty cool. (The tracks with vocals have some very catchy choruses, too!).

[Paul Wolfe]

Honestly all I've ever heard from him is the first Loudness album... it's amazing to me that I knew who you were talking about just by seeing his name in the title to your post.

I'll have to check his playing out and get back to you.

[kamalayka]

They say that in the early 80s, the twoguys at the top were Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. Well, I think number three could easily be Akira Takasaki!

On Youtube, look up "Lazy - Earth Ark." Akira plays a wicked solo, and in 1981! Easily on the level of Rhoads and VH.

[Paul Wolfe]

They say that in the early 80s, the twoguys at the top were Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. Well, I think number three could easily be Akira Takasaki!

On Youtube, look up "Lazy - Earth Ark." Akira plays a wicked solo, and in 1981! Easily on the level of Rhoads and VH.

I would put that song in more of a late '70's Blackmore or Scorpions vein... not as polished as Van Halen or Blizzard of Ozz. The guy's talented, to be sure, but there were a lot of underrated guitarists then. The guys in Skid Row come to mind in the underrated category.

[kamalayka]

It's also cool to see how he evolved as a player throughout the eighties. He reminds me of Randy Rhoads a lot in this regard. He wasn't one of those guys who feels he doesn't have to practice anymore just because he has a record deal.

Just four years later he recorded "Thunder in the East" with producer Max Norman. His playing and tone are insane on that album. There is also a bit of a Rhoads influence on "We Could be Together."

I think he'd have been much better in Ozzy's band than Zakk Wylde. (There was a recording on Youtube a while ago of Akira playing Over the Mountain, and it was amazing!)

[Paul Wolfe]

ronni le tekrø was one of the finest guys nobody in the States knew of... I see him in the same light as Akira Takasaki - super talented, but, unfortunately too exotic for the mainstream. Sad but true, you have to make it into the mainstream to get the Icon classification of Randy and Eddie.

[oth]

I saw loudness in 1985!haha!
The guy is real good and has a percussive attack in his rythme playing.The songs....meh.
Ronnie le tekro,i remember that band!

[Stiltzkin]

Oh boy ... Akira Takasaki ...
I've been a major Loudness fans for many years
Akira is a very 'European' player with some Rhoads flavour
Ritchie Blackmore was/is a major influence there, along with
some EVH tapping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXqBOok0eE0

[RhoadsRockPhotographer]

Roudness - Live at M3 Festival 05-12-12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auJpzFDFfqU

Wok 'n' Woll

[Paul Wolfe]

Roudness - Live at M3 Festival 05-12-12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auJpzFDFfqU

Wok 'n' Woll

I listened just past the first solo... I like the music, but he still needs to get his solos to 'fit' and not just 'play stuff' in the solo section... I'll listen to the whole thing before judging too harshly.

[Paul Wolfe]

Okay, I listened to the whole clip... like the songs, not the solos...

This review of his playing fits pretty well in my opinion. Read the section titled "Weakness" for an apt description of what I consider his weak points.

Again, love the songs but the solos don't fit all the time.